Can I Enroll In Medicare With Previous Health Issues?

What is Medicare?

Medicare was created, and designed by Congress and signed into law in 1965 as a national health insurance for people over the age of 65. Represented by multiple parts most people will refer to as Part A (hospital insurance), Part B (medical insurance) Part C (supplemental coverage) and Part D (prescription drug coverage), this was designed to provide insurance coverage to aging Americans once they began to receive Social Security benefits. But this does not answer the question; can I enroll in Medicare with previous health issues? First, let’s examine eligibility.

Am I eligible for Medicare?

Can I enroll in Medicare with previous health issues? Anyone over the age of 65 is eligible for Medicare, that has been a legal resident of the United States for at least five years, and they or their spouse has paid into the Medicare system for at least forty quarters. Persons under the age of 65 who are disabled and receiving Social Security can also be eligible for Medicare, along with persons who have other qualifying illnesses such as end stage renal disease. What about other diseases?

Can I enroll in Medicare with previous health issues?

High blood pressure, arthritis, strokes, cancer and heart attacks are a few diseases that strike as we get older. How would these or other health issues affect eligibility for Medicare? The good news is they won’t. No matter what your condition is you automatically qualify for Medicare as long as you have met the basic qualifications spelled out above. If you are disabled prior to age 65 you become eligible two years after you begin receiving Social Security benefits. There are no conditions or diseases that Medicare will deem to be “pre-existing” conditions that they will not cover.